Glycolic Acid is without a doubt one of the most effective active ingredients currently known in skin care. It provides instant gratification by making the skin look smoother immediately after the very first use, and also long-term benefits, like the reduction of redness, acne, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines. Since I have a whole bunch of other weird actives in my regimen, including other potent acids, I prefer not to clash them with glycolic acid and use it in my peels and cleansers instead, so I was thrilled to discover NeoStrata Foaming Glycolic Wash.
Foaming Glycolic Wash is designed for people, whose skin is already accustomed to glycolic acid to further enhance the results of their current beauty routine. As someone who’s been using products with GA for a few years, I think my skin is used to it by now just fine, since I didn’t experience any discomfort. First timers may experience uncomfortable tingling and even redness, so building up tolerance starting with lower percentages of GA is recommended.
The formula contains two key components:
- 18% Glycolic Acid derived from sugar cane chemically exfoliates the skin by breaking down and dissolving dead skin cells and impurities, making the surface look tighter and smoother. With continued use it can help firm the skin and reduce the depth and length of fine lines and wrinkles. Since it also masterfully clears out the pores, the visible “reduction of pore size” is none other than your pores naturally going back to their normal state. The reason pores appear oversized is because of clogging, and products with GA address that problem after the first use.
- 2% Lactobionic Acid derived from milk sugar is a very potent antioxidant that helps increase cell turnover, so those acne scars and other discolorations will fade away sooner. Like GA, it also helps to exfoliate the skin and reduce the effects of photo aging, but in a gentler manner. With continued use, LBA moisturizes and strengthens the skin, making it smoother, tighter, and more resistant to further damage.
Ingredients – CosDNA: Aqua (Water), Glycolic Acid, PEG-8, Alcohol Denat., Arginine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Ammonium Hydroxide, Lactobionic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Methylparaben, Chlorphenesin.
It’s important to note the products with Glycolic Acid can make the skin more sensitive to UV rays, so using SPF40+ daily is recommended [everyone should be doing that anyway], which is ironic, because GA actually helps address hyper pigmentation caused by prolonged sun exposure. So if you baked in the sun in High School or in college, and now deeply regret it, products with Glycolic Acid can and will reduce the appearance of photo aging, at least partially. There really aren’t that many non-invasive methods of doing that, and GA is one of the few actives currently known, that can visibly help reverse the damage somewhat.
I’ve been using Foaming Glycolic Wash for three weeks now, and it did what it said it would – gradually made my pores shrink a bit, and my skin now feels a little tighter and smoother than before. Can’t comment on the line-reducing properties, because I use other products for that, but no new ones so far. I also had a red patch on my chin, that I couldn’t get rid of for a few months, and it faded by about 50% after I incorporated this cleanser into my routine. Actually, I was having a couple of really bad skin months, so you can see acne scars all over my face; luckily, I got things under control now. Despite the high content of acids in the formula, I did not experience any irritation, which is one of the reasons why I plan to continue using it daily until this bottle runs out. Overall, I’m satisfied with the results, I feel like Foaming Glycolic Wash does more for my skin than most other cleansers in my stash.
WHERE TO BUY: $40 USD for 3.4 oz. Available at NeoStrata, Dermstore.
For more information about the benefits of Glycolic and Lactobionic acids, check out Neostrata.com.
Do you use products with Glycolic Acid in your beauty routine? Have you tried anything from the NeoStrata line before? Let me know in the comments below!
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Great review! You got amazing results. I am testing out another product line for review so I had to suspend my use of this product. But the GA made the creases around my nose sting so I needed to take a break. I’m hoping the 8% AHA that I’m using now will make it easier for my to go back to this.
Thank you Allison! I was very impressed with this cleanser and thought it deserved an extra thorough review 🙂 It’s definitely designed for people who already built up tolerance to AHA, so it might sting a little or it could sting a lot. I remember trying my very first AHA product and thinking that I will never go back to that torture again… And here I am, using a 20% cleanser 🙂
I agree with Allison, great review. I haven’t tried anything from this brand, or any skin products with GA, but I am very impressed by the results.
Thank you Cindy! GA is one of the few active ingredients that seem to actually give me results. It works wonders for resurfacing the skin and dealing with minor discolorations, like acne scars and sun damage that isn’t too deep.
LOVE foaming cleansers. and…WOW what a difference! Let me get right on this!
I like foaming cleansers too, and for a long time thought L’Occitane’s Immortelle cleanser was my fave. Now, it’s definitely this one 🙂
This is a great review. I need to get my skin used to GA so I can try this and get these results!!!
Thank you, Judy! Yep, get it used to GA for sure, otherwise it might seriously break you out, not to mention very unpleasant stinging. I really like products with GA, they’re pretty much always present in my routine in one form or another, whether it’s a cleanser, a toner, a mask, or a peel.
Definitely a difference! This is amazing!
Right? Worked wonders for me, so I’m not surprised it’s one of Neostrata’s bestsellers 🙂
What a difference! I’m so happy that it’s working for you.
I’m really happy, too, because I thought I’ll never get rid of those yucky acne scars. Love this cleanser! 🙂
Looks like it’s working amazingly well on you! My skin would probably fall off if I used this, hahaha. I use a 1% BHA because I have such baby skin!
For sure, I’m enjoying the benefits of a good peel without the irritation that comes with it. Loving the results I got so far! But yes, I’m pretty sure this cleanser is not suitable at all for sensitive skin.
Amazing that a cleanser can make such a great difference since it’s not on your skin long.
Well, with 20% concentration, this is basically a strong acid peel that I wash off after a minute, instead of having it sit on my skin for 15-20, so I’m not surprised that it works.
I know that usually Glycolic Acid is for people with dry skin but I swear it’s so good even for my oily skin!
I didn’t know that GA is for dry skin, because it always worked so well for my combo skin! I just love a good acid in my routine and use a whole bunch of them: lactic for my feet, hyaluronic in my masks and serums, vit C in my AM routine, retinol in my PM routine, and of course glycolic in the form of peels, toners, and cleansers 🙂
Ohh I need to check this out!
If you do, make sure your skin is used to glycolic acid, or the effect will be just the opposite.
I like that it’s made from sugar cane. It sounds nice!
I’m really liking it so far 🙂
I have seen this everywhere lately. Sounds cool.
The product’s been around forever, but looks like they want to re-promote it 🙂
I’ve done glycolic peels and they def work same like this but obv way more aggressively. The change in texture is a major bonus.
Oh for sure! You’d be able to get this same result after a couple of peels probably, but I think this cleanser is a pretty good alternative, if you can commit to using it daily. My last peel didn’t go so well, though, and I had horrible breakouts along the jawline 🙁
This sounds like it has been awesome for you. I have a hard time using products that have Glycolic acid – my darn face is just too sensitive.
Yes, there’s even a warning that it’s not for sensitive skin. I think there are alternatives that you could use instead, but I didn’t really research them much, since my skin can tolerate GA pretty well at this point.
Dang, amazing difference!
I guess pictures speak louder than words! This just might be my current HG foaming cleanser.
What other products would you pair with the glycolic acid wash? Say a moisturiser and a toner